pointed sticks, on
which they held their meat close to the fire
till it was roasted to a beautiful brown; and
then you cannot think how good it tasted. After
eating their bread and meat, they had some nice
crullers and cheese to end off with.

Well, by and by the sap in the little kettle
had boiled into sirup. Then the children
brought some clean snow in their cups, and
carefully dipped a spoonful of hot sirup into
each cup. The snow cooled it at once, and
turned it into clear, hard candy. I wish you
could have had some of it to eat! I know they
thought it was delicious.

Soon after they had eaten their candy, they put
out the fire with snow, and went home, having
had a very happy time; and they did not forget
to take candy enough with them for mother and
little sister, and all the rest of the family.

ANNA HOLYOKE.

[Illustration]

WHERE IS THE BABY?

OH! who has seen my baby?
Does anybody know
Where I can find my darling,
My precious little Joe?

The house is very lonesome;
No baby do I see:
Oh! if my missing treasure
Would but come back to me!

Ah! here is a young lady,
Just four years old to-day,
Who tells me that my darling
Is not so far away.

What! this great girl my baby?
Well, well, it must be so;
But, really, it's amazing
To see how babies grow.

KATE CAMERON.

[Illustration]

THE BIRD'S RETURN.

"WHERE have you been, little birdie,--
Where have you been so long?"

"Warbling in glee
Far o'er the sea,
And learning for you a new song,
My sweet,--
Learning for you a new song."

"Why did you go, little birdie,--
Why did you go from me?"

"Winter was here,
Leafless and drear;
And so I flew over the sea,
My sweet,--
So I flew over the sea."

"What did you see, little birdie,--
What did you see each day?"

"Sunshine and flowers,
Blossoms and bowers,
And pretty white lam